Jake frowned. “Woo? What the hell is this, the seventeenth century?”
“Hey, don’t hate. I’m going to go be romantic and tell her what’s going on with our pack so she feels involved.” He shrugged on his clothes. “Mom says that’s the best way to get her to open up to me. Then I’m going to give her a foot rub and see if I can get her naked.”
“You know she cares about you, right?” Mason asked, giving him that all-knowing older brother look.
He did know, but hearing Mason say it helped the insecurity he’d been feeling lessen. “I know that. But it’s getting her to acknowledge it that seems to be the problem.”
“Good luck with that. I can’t seem to get Emma to acknowledge she’s not Superman.”
Putting the truck in drive, he waved to his brothers. “I think you’re the one that needs luck, Mase. Emma is bossy and dangerous.”
Mason’s eyes crinkled with his smile, the wolf still bright in his gaze. “I know. It’s one of the things I love about her. But you better be careful with Karla. Pushed enough and she’ll let all that stuff she’s been holding inside out. Don’t be there when that happens.”
The fact that Karla internalized worried him. She needed to let things out, or she’d make herself sick. Or worse, she’d blow up one day and say things she might regret.
“About those humans,” Jake brought his attention to him. “I’ll get a couple of our guys on it. See who they are and why they’re interested in our pack.”
Nate put the truck in drive and drove off, ready to hunt down the humans himself.
Karla sat on her new sofa, grading papers when she heard the door. She’d been distracted, thinking about Nate. Even Kel had mentioned how quiet she’d been during their lunch meeting. She couldn’t help it. The night at his bar had been eye-opening. She’d enjoyed talking to him about his business. Loved mixing drinks for the patrons and meetings his customers and employees. But more than that, she loved seeing that side of Nate. And seeing him show her to others as the woman he wanted. It was really nice.
Nate sauntered in with a wide grin and a hand behind his back.
“Hey.” She frowned, watching his face. “Are those cuts?”
There was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “It’s not a big deal. We encountered some shifters and had to kick a little tail.”
“Let me see.” She readied to stand, but he shook his head.
“Stay there. I have something to tell you.” His gaze locked with hers.
The way he looked at her, with hesitation urged her to reach out try to comfort him. Tell him it would be okay. “Nate, you look worried. Whatever is on your mind is fine. You can tell me.”
“I want you to be my partner all the way through everything.” He stepped closer. “Not just in the bedroom where you make me lose my mind.” She glanced down. “No, don’t look embarrassed. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Inside and out. I want us to communicate. Tell each other what we want out of this.”
“Okay.”
His hand finally came around, and he held a small potted bamboo plant. “This is for you.”
She watched him place the small plant on her coffee table. It was a little thing, just growing its first leaf.
“This plant is known to bring luck to those who are gifted it. But that’s not why I’m giving it to you.” He sat down next to her and leaned closer. “See that little leaf? That’s us. Our relationship. We can help it grow like this plant if we nurture and care for it.” He enfolded her hand with his. “Together.”
“Nate…I don’t know what to say.” She didn’t. There was just something special about the way he described growing together.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured, love. I want you to want to be here with me. To do whatever we do together. That you are one hundred percent sure you can count on me for anything, and that I will be there no matter what.”
Her throat turned sandpaper dry. She wanted him to feel the same way about her too. “I think you are one of the most amazing men I have ever met.” She pushed doubt to the ground. “I know it won’t be easy to be open all the time since it’s a new thing for me, but I am willing to give us full commitment.”
She smiled. Her entire body felt lighter after saying that. It was as if a giant weight had been lifted off her. Nate and her babies. They were the future and most important parts of her life. No more doubting it.
He rearranged her feet to lay on his lap. “Now that we got that down and out, I want you to be extra careful.”